WTN: 2005 J. J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese #12

[David M. Bueker]

Just a few words: oh my freaking God! This is astounding quality in Riesling Spatlese. Of course in any reasonable world it's an auslese, but an auslese that is poised, elegant, tropical, focused, energized, refreshing, long, unbelievably long, and just flat out delicious.

Get some.

David, I will never see this wine in my world, but what does a wine like this cost?

[David M. Bueker]

This was a 1/2 bottle that cost me $18. I have fulls that cost $35.

Just a few words: oh my freaking God! This is astounding quality in Riesling Spatlese. Of course in any reasonable world it's an auslese, but an auslese that is poised, elegant, tropical, focused, energized, refreshing, long, unbelievably long, and just flat out delicious.

Get some.

Ya knoooow.... it's posts like these that just makes me wanna "git sum"!

[David M. Bueker]

And FYI - the famous Prum "sulphur" is not bad at all in this bottling, at least right now.

David,

How does it stack up against the 99?

[David M. Bueker]

David,

How does it stack up against the 99?

Blows it out of the water, but then this is really top grade auslese where the '99 is more of a true spatlese.

Sold!

I've never tried a spatlese (even if it's more like and auslese, which I've never tried either, only kabinetts, which probably weren't true kabinetts).

However, the store that I usually purchase from only has this in a 2003...anyone have any knowledge of that vintage? Wondering if I should just try to find the 2005 on the internet...

[David M. Bueker]

Try to find the 2005. It's all over the internet. The 2003 is very much an acquired taste because of the shockingly low acids.

It's notes like these that dont help my budget at all. Thanks...I think.

Try to find the 2005. It's all over the internet. The 2003 is very much an acquired taste because of the shockingly low acids.

Thanks, and one last question: Does the #12 matter in the description? I've found matches for the rest of the label, but not necessarily w/ the 12 in there.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks, and one last question: Does the #12 matter in the description? I've found matches for the rest of the label, but not necessarily w/ the 12 in there.

Last question? But I'm having so much fun.

Anyway, the #12 (the AP number for the bottling I had) is not really that big of a deal. If you get a #12 you will clearly be having the same wine I did, but if you get some other number (that is not a gold cap - those are much more expensive) it will be very similar. All that said, I think there is only the #12 in the USA at the moment.

Last question? But I'm having so much fun.

Anyway, the #12 (the AP number for the bottling I had) is not really that big of a deal. If you get a #12 you will clearly be having the same wine I did, but if you get some other number (that is not a gold cap - those are much more expensive) it will be very similar. All that said, I think there is only the #12 in the USA at the moment.

German wine labels are soooo confusing to me

Another question for David:
What is your opinion on Bischofliche Weinguter--I see a 1999 Trier Eitelsbacher Gold Cap Auslese that might be interesting but I know nothing about the producer.

[David M. Bueker]

What is your opinion on Bischofliche Weinguter--I see a 1999 Trier Eitelsbacher Gold Cap Auslese that might be interesting but I know nothing about the producer.

Mediocre producer in a middling vintage.

Just a few words: oh my freaking God! This is astounding quality in Riesling Spatlese. Of course in any reasonable world it's an auslese, but an auslese that is poised, elegant, tropical, focused, energized, refreshing, long, unbelievably long, and just flat out delicious.

Get some.

Sounds good, just had the 05 WS Auslese the other day with Peter Ruhrberg and I thought it was a perfect example of elegance elegance elegance, melting on the mouth and not at all a super creamy BA-style Auslese.

Peter was a bit underwhelmed although it was not until the bottle was long gone and disposed of that he realized we should have checked the Ap number against his previous tastings.

Oh well, I'll just savor the memory..